Labor rights abuses persist in Mexico

Social justice news
February 8, 2008

Labor rights abuses persist in Mexico
In 2004, the UK's Catholic Agency for Overseas Development's 'Clean Up Your Computer' campaign successfully persuaded leading electronics manufacturers Dell and IBM to sign up to Codes of Conduct to improve conditions for workers across their supply chains. Following the campaign, companies met with local organisations and heard the experiences of electronics workers first hand.

Four years on, CAFOD’s Mexican partner, the Centre for Reflection and Action on Labour Issues (CEREAL), has produced a new report into labour rights abuses as part of its ongoing work to ensure ICT companies in Mexico live up to their commitments.

The report claims that workers are exposed to toxic materials, safety rules are ignored allowing accidents to happen, and union rights are restricted. Alleged abuses uncovered include a woman whose hands were severed by a company machine, a pregnant woman forced to stand for seven hour shifts, and a denial of annual leave or maternity leave to the contract workers who make up the majority of the workforce.

Interviews were conducted with almost 2,000 workers within the supply chains of electronics companies, including Hitachi, Hewlett Packard, Nokia, Philips, Dell, Motorola, Lenovo and Intel, and 236 cases of alleged abuse were documented. Electronics equipment is Mexico’s main export and the industry employs 400,000 workers who earn on average 100 pesos (U.S. $ 9.25) a day.

Anne Lindsay, CAFOD private sector analyst, says: "Thanks to CEREAL’s work the industry is now well aware of abuses, and is often responding more promptly to complaints.

"But that this report shows that abuses are still occurring on a regular basis is hugely disappointing."

CAFOD and CEREAL are calling for all electronics brands and large contract companies to work across their supply chains to improve conditions and allow workers to join independent trade unions.

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